South Pacific review: It’s shocking how contemporary this simmering musical feels 70 years on August 5, 2022 Mid century American writer and lyricist combo Rodgers and Hammerstein are having a moment. A new experimental version of their most famous musical, Oklahoma!, played at the Young Vic earlier this summer, and now there’s a fresh version of South Pacific. Over 70 years since its 1949 Broadway premier it still feels shockingly contemporary in [...]
Trevor Steven’s Premier League preview: Big seasons in store for Liverpool and Tottenham August 5, 2022 It pains me to write this as a former Evertonian, but I think it could be Liverpool’s year again in the Premier League – although they and Manchester City will find Tottenham Hotspur snapping at their heels. Most of the big clubs have been quick to strengthen ahead of the new season, making early signings [...]
Most employers believe four-day working week will be the norm before 2030 August 3, 2022 The majority of employers believe that a four-day working week will become the norm in the UK before 2030. According to a survey conducted by Censuswide on behalf of NatWest Rapid Cash, 78 per cent of employers believe it will happen by the end of the decade while 52 per cent of recruiters said it [...]
Greggs’ plans to sell hot food into early hours at Leicester Sq flagship thwarted by council August 1, 2022 Greggs’ plans to sell hot food into the early hours of the morning at its Leicester Square flagship site have been knocked back. Westminster City Council blocked an application for the West End store to sell hot food – such as its chicken goujons – and hot drinks until 5am, citing concerns of the Met [...]
‘Gen Z events may be future of Commonwealth Games’ July 28, 2022 On a flight home from a business meeting in Guernsey, I sat across the aisle from members of the island’s Commonwealth Games team. I think I spotted sprinter Abi Galpin in her Guernsey Athletics sweatshirt, while an older member of the entourage – team manager? coach? – had his nose firmly in the World Championships [...]
Heritage campaigners and M&S roll up sleeves for public inquiry over Oxford St flagship store July 27, 2022 Heritage campaigners have started crowdfunding to battle Marks and Spencer’s plans to demolish its 1929 flagship Oxford St store this autumn. M&S hopes to demolish the Marble Arch building, which it says has “asbestos throughout,” to create a new 10-storey building, with office space and a gym. A two-week public inquiry in October will assess [...]
EXCLUSIVE: 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst: ‘My own memory could fade. You expect it to happen’ July 27, 2022 Sir Geoff Hurst tells Frank Dalleres that seeing most of his 1966 World Cup winning team-mates suffer with dementia convinced him to preserve his memories in the form of a digital artwork that will help to raise money for two Alzheimer’s charities. Every morning Sir Geoff Hurst goes for an hour-long walk through the park [...]
Virgin Money announces plans to take UK’s fast-growing ‘buy now, pay later market’ by storm July 26, 2022 Virgin Money said this afternoon the bank plans to enter the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market later this year. With an offering called Virgin Money Slyce, Virgin Money is set to launch a new BNPL credit card product. Any spend over £30 can be spread across three, six, nine or 12-month repayment plans. Paying [...]
No pressure? Gazprom cuts gas flows into Europe as cold winter months loom July 25, 2022 Gazprom plans to further cut gas flows into Europe, raising the chilling prospect of rationing and blackouts this winter.
Germany hands €15bn to Uniper in bailout deal July 24, 2022 The German government has stepped in to rescue troubled utility giant Uniper with a whopping €15bn bailout after suffering sharp losses.